Unitary grid assembly for ice freezing trays



Febo 1944! N. ERLAND AF KLEEN 2,342,554

UNITARY GRID ASSEMBLY FOR ICE FREEZING TRAYS Filed Feb. 2, 1942' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RZZQ: INVENTOR. 1E Yflflidfid If]? lee/ 0 ATTOR/Vf) Feb 9 1944- N. ERLAN AF KLEEZN UNITARY GRID ASSEMBLY FOR ICE FREEZING TRAYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1942 (Z/' V, BY 1 Patented Feb. 29,

UNITARY GRID ASSEMBLY FOR ICE FREEZING TRAYS Nils Erland at Kleen, Stockholm, Sweden, as-

signor to Kleen Refrigerator, Inc., Hoboken,

N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application February 2, 1942, Serial No. 429,246

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a unitary grid assembly for use in an ice-freezing tray employed in the cooling 'unit of a refrigerator and has for its primary obbond of ice between the tray and thepartitionsformed by the grid assembly.

Another object of. the invention is to provide a unitary grid assembly adapted to be removably disposed in an ice tray and dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of individual cells arranged in groups, the cells of one group being of different size relative to the cells in the other group or groups.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary grid assembly having a plurality of transverse metallic partitions arranged 'edgewise and rigidly secured. at their upper ends to a resilient longitudinal bar, said grid assembly also having a plurality of metallic partitions arranged in overlapping relation to provide a substantially continuous wall extending longitudinally of the grid assembly, said last named partitions bein supported by said transverse partitions.

A still further object of the invention i to provide a unitary grid assembly wherein the opposite longitudinal extremities thereof are adapted to be flexed upwardly by a system of levers to break the bond of ice between the individual cells and the walls of the tray and to release the ice blocks from the cells without requiring any manual handling of the ice blocks.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear asthe description proceeds, my inventlon consists in any other novel features hereinafter more fully set forth in the following description, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which numerals of like character designate similar parts of the several views,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ice tray with the grid assembly forming the subject of the present invention in place therein;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the tray and grid assembly taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing one of the operating levers in active position to flex one end of the grid assembly:

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the grid assembly showing the arc formed when flexing the same by the operating levers;

Fig. 4 is a. transverse section through the tray and grid assembly taken on line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the operating arms;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the grid assembly taken on line 6-.6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a sectional detail taken on line of Fig. 6 and showing the grid assembly in flexed condition, and

Fig. 8 is an exploded detail of two transverse partitions and one of the longitudinal dividing partitions of the grid assembly.

In the drawings, referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a conventional ice tray I0 is illustrated having a bottom wall ll, side walls l2, and end walls l3, adapted to be fllled with water and placed in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator. Removably disposed in the tray Ill is my novel unitary grid assembly of metal or other heat-conducting material dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of cells for th formation of ice blocks. The grid assembly includesa plurality of partitions l5 forming transverse walls and a plurality of partitions l8 forming a longitudinal dividing wall. In the form shown, the longitudinal dividing wall formed by the partitions I6 is provided in only one-half of the tray to form two longitudinal rows of cells i! of predetermined size (Figs. 4 and 6) while in the other half of the tray, larger cells 18 are formed which extend the entire width of the tray (Fig. 2). Each of'the transverse partitions l5 conforms in shape substantially to the cross-sectional area of the tray l0 and is provided along its upper edge with a centrally disposed lateral projection I9 bent at right angles and welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the under-side of a flat horizontal bar 20 possessing a certain amount of resiliency to enable the same to be flexed or bowed for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The partitions l6 are each provided with a cut-out slot 2| in the bottom one-half thereof and certain of the partitions I! are each provided with a complementary cut-out slot 22 in the upper half thereof to receive a separate partition l6 and support the latter in place. The slots in the partitions l5 extend centrally through the lateral projections l9 whereby longitudinally extending guides are provided thereby for the upper portions of the partitions I as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The edge portions of adjacent partitions l6 are arranged in overlapping relation intermediate the transverse partitions l5 and each is provided adjacent the bottom thereof with a cut-out opening 23 and a. bent lug 24 in alignment therewith, the lug of one partition l6 engaging in the complementary opening 23 of an adjacent partition for interlocking said partitions. The openings 23 are so dimensioned as to permit limited movement therein of the lugs 24 for relative sliding movement between adjacent partitions l6 when the bar is flexed as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The mechanism for flexing the bar 20 includes a pair of operating arms 25 and 26 each pivotally secured at one end to the bar by any suitable means such for example as a pin 21 extending transversely therethrough and held in a loop 28 formed by a metallic strap 29 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper face of the bar 29 intermediate the ends of the latter (Figs. 1 and 2.) The arms 25 and 26 are oppositely disposed on each side of the pin 21 and are movable in opposite directions, the arm-25 being operatively connected intermediate its ends to one end of a lever 30 hingedly connected at its other end to one end of the bar 20, and arm 26 being similarly connected to one end of a lever 3| hingedly connected at its other end to the opposite end of the bar 20. The arms 25 and 26 are shown in the form of channel bars having side flanges 32 and a connecting web 33, the latter being provided with a cut-out slot 34 to accommodate the end of one of the levers 30 and 3|. At the pivoted end of the arms, the side flanges 32 thereof are arranged in overlapping relation on opposite edges of the loop 28 and are each provided with a transverse opening 35 (Fig. 5) adapted to register with the opening formed by the loop to receive the transverse pin 21. The side flanges 32 of each of the arms 25 and 26 have beveled ends 36 adapted to cooperate with the strap 29 on opposite sides, respectively, of the loop 28 to limit the movement of the arms indirections toward one another.

The levers 30 and 3| are operatively connected to the arms 25 and 26, respectively, by means of pin-and-slot connections comprising a longitudinally extending slot 31 in each of the levers and a transverse pin 39 in each of the arms extending through suitable openings 39 in the side flanges 32. In this manner the operating arms 25 and 26 and their associated levers 39 and 3|, respectively, may be lowered to normally occupy a substantially horizontal position on the bar 20. The hinge connections between the levers 36 and 3| at the opposite extremities; respectively, of bar 20 may convenie'ntly be formed by bifurcating each end of the bar to receive therebetween the end of the corresponding lever and rolling the bifurcations to form an eye 49 at each end of the bar 20 to receive a pintle 4|.

In order to reduce'the overall height of the grid assembly it when the operating mechanism is in lowered position on the bar 20, the slotted end of each lever, 39 and 3| is offset with respect to the opposite end thereof, and the web 33 of each of the operating arms 25 and 26 is foreshortened adjacent the pivot pin 21 to accommodate the strap 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Moreover, the free end of each of the operating arms 25 and 26 is offset with respect to the pivoted end thereof so that the web 33 at the free end of each arm overlies the hinged end of the corresponding levers 39 and 3|.

In the use of the grid assembly for the formation of ice blocks in an ice tray, when it is desired to remove the ice blocks from the tray, the

free ends of the arms 25 and 26 are grasped and lifted to move in directions toward each other. During this movement, the pin 36 of each arm will ride freely in the slot 31 of the associated lever until it reaches the terminus of the slot without causing any movement of the bar 20. Thereafter, further movement of the arms 25 and 28 toward one another will raise the opposite longitudinal extremities of the bar 20, thereby causing the transverse partitions IS in one-half of the grid assembly to be moved upwardly and outwardly in one direction and the corresponding partitions in the second half of the grid assembly to be moved upwardly and outwardly in the opposite direction, to release the ice bond between the grid assembly and the walls of the tray. In view of the fact that the transverse partitions l5 radiate outwardly from the arc defined by the bowed bar 20 as shown in Fig. 3, movement of said partitions by the bar will be in an are so that the lower portion of each cell formed between successive partitions will be enlarged or widened longitudinally of the grid assembly to release the ice blocks and permit the latter to fall freely from the bottom of the grid assembly. Moreover, since each dividing partition I6 is supported entirely by a separate transverse partition i5 by virtue of the slot arrangement previously described, movement of the transverse partitions will cause relative sliding movement between the overlapping edges of adjacent dividing partitionsto break the ice bond between the ice blocks and the longitudinal dividing wall of the grid assembly.

While I have shown and described the grid as sembly as having a longitudinal dividing wall extending only one-halfthe length of the tray whereby cells 11 and I8 are provided of respectively different sizes, said dividing wall may extend the entire length of the tray for the formation of cells of uniform size arranged in two longitudinal rows. Furthermore, the longitudinal dividing wall may be omitted for the formation by the transverse partitions I5 of larger cells of uniform size.

, For a grid assembly including only transverse partitions I 5 for the formation of cells l8, or, as

shown in the drawings, for a grid assembly including also dividing partitions |6 forming a dividing wall in one-half of the assembly, a reinforcing brace 45 (Fig. 2) is provided between the transverse partitions 5 at the extreme end or ends of the assembly and the adjacent extremity of the bar 20.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a unitary grid assembly which is easy to operate and one which will effect removal of the ice blocks from the walls of the tray and complete release of the ice blocks from the individual cells.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and advantages of my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind the numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a unitary grid assembly for ice trays, longitudinally extending resilient means, a plurality of spaced-apart vertical partitions arranged transversely of said resilient means and rigidly secured at their upper ends to said resilient means to form transverse walls, a plurality of separate vertical partitions extending transversely to said first-named partitions and movably connected together in overlapping relation to form a continuous longitudinal dividing wall, each of said second-named partitions being supported intermediate its ends by a separate one of said of said plate member and rigidly secured at their upper ends to said plate member to form transverse walls, a plurality ofseparate vertical partitions extemiing transversely to said first-named partitions and movably connected together in overlapping relation to form a continuous longi tudinal dividing wall, each of said second-named partitions being supported intermediate its ends by a separate one of said first-named partitions, and motion transmitting means including movable means pivotally connected to said plate member intermediate the ends of the latter, and separate means operatively connecting said movable means to the opposite longitudinal extremities of said plate member for flexing said plate member in the form of an are having its axis above the grid assembly, whereby said first-named partitions are moved outwardly relative to one another and said second-named partitions moved longitudinally relative to one another to release the ice blocks in cells formed by said transverse walls and said longitudinal dividing wall.

3. In a unitary grid assembly for ice trays, a longitudinally extending resilient member, a pinrality of spaced-apart vertical partitions ar-l ranged transversely of said member and forming transverse walls, each of said walls being secured at its upper end to said member, a plurality of separate vertical partitions arranged transversely to said first-named partitions and slidably connected together in overlapping relation in the spaces between successive transverse walls to provide a continuous longitudinal dividing-,wall, each of said second-named partitions being carried by a separate one of said first-named partitions, means for raising the opposite longitudinal extremities of said resilient member whereby to move said transverse walls outwardly with respect to one another and move said second-named partitions longitudinally relative to one another to release the ice blocks in cells formed by said transverse walls and said longitudinal dividing wall, and mutually cooperating means on the overlapping portions of said second-named partitions for limiting the extent of relative movement between said second-named partitions.

4. A unitary grid assembly for-ice trays comprising a longitudinally extending resilient member, a plurality of spaced-apart, vertical transversepartitions rigidly secured at their upper ends to said resilient member, a plurality of other vertical partitions slidably connected together in overlapping relation to provide a substantially continuous longitudinal dividing wall through certain of said transverse partitions and form therewith cells of predetermined size on opposite sides oi. said dividing wall, the remainder of said transverse partitions forming cells of larger size than said first named cells whereby cells of different size are provided in respectively difierent sections of the grid assembly for the formation or ice blocks of correspondingly different size, each of said certain transverse partitions and each of said separate vertical partitions being provided with complementary transverse cut-out slots provided in the upper half and lower half of said transverse partitions and said separate partitions, respectively, whereby each of said separate partitions straddles a separate one of said certain transverse partitions and is supported thereby, and motion transmitting means operatively connected to said resilient member for raising the opposite longitudinal extremities of the latter relative to the center of said resilient member, whereby said transverse partitions are moved outwardly with respect to one another and said separate partitions are moved longitudinally relative to one another to release the ice blocks in each of the cells of the grid assembly.

5. In a unitary grid assembly for ice trays, a

longitudinally extending resilient member, a plurality of spaced-apart vertical transverse-partitions rigidly secured at their upper ends to the underside of said resilient member, and motion transmitting mechanism including a pair of arms pivotally connected to said resilient member-intermediate the ends of the latter, and separate means operatively connecting said arms to the opposite longitudinal extremities, respectively, of said resilient member for raising the latter relative to said pivotal connection to flex said resilient member in the form of an are having its axial center disposed above the grid assembly, whereby said transverse partitions are moved outwardly with respect to one another to release the ice blocks in the cells provided between adjacent partitions.

6. In a unitary grid assembly for ice trays, a longitudinally extending resilient member, a plurality of vertical spaced-apart transverse partitions rigidly secured at their upper ends to the underside of said resilient member, motion transmitting mechanism including a pair of arms pivotally connectedat one end to said resilient member intermediate the ends of the latter, and separate levers operatively connecting said arms to the opposite longitudinal extremities, respectively, of said resilient member for raising the latter relative to said pivotal connection to flex said resilient member in the form of an arc having its axial center disposed above the grid assembly, whereby said transverse partitions are moved outwardly with respect to one another to release the ice blocks formed in the cells "provided between adjacent partitions, and means for limiting the extent of movement of said motion transmitting mechanism to prevent flexing of said resilient member beyond the limits of its resiliency.

7. In a unitary grid assembly for ice trays, a longitudinally extending resilient member, a plurality of vertical transverse partitions rigidly secured at their upper ends to the underside of said resilient member in spaced-apart relation to one another for providing a series of transverse cells, a plurality of other vertical partitions disposed transversely to said first-named partitions and each carried intermediate its ends by a separate one of said first-named partitions intermediate the ends of the latter, said second-named partitions being movably connected together in overlapping relation in the spaces between said first named partitions to form a substantially continuous longitudinal dividing wall through at least a portion of said series of transverse cells and motion transmitting mechanism including means pivotally secured to said resilient member intermediate the ends or the latter, and separate means operatively connecting said pivoted means to the opposite longitudinal extremities of said resilient member for flexin said resilient member in the form of an are having its axial center above the grid assembly, whereby said first-named partitions are moved outwardly with respect to one another and said second-named partitions carried thereby are moved longitudinally relative to one another.

8. In a unitary grid assembly for ice trays, a longitudinally extending resilient member, a plurality of spaced-apart vertical transverse partitions each terminating at its upper end in a lateral projection rigidly secured to the underside of said resilient member, said partitions providing a series of transverse cells along the bottom of said resilient member, certain of said transverse partitions each having a transverse cut-out slot in the upper half thereof extending through said lateral projection, a plurality of other vertical partitions disposed transversely to said firstnamed slotted partitions and each having a cutout slot in the lower half thereof intermediate its ends for engagement with a separate one of said first-named slotted partitions, said second-named partitions being movably connected together in overlapping relation in the spaces between said first-named slotted partitions to form a substantially continuous longitudinal dividing wall through the cells provided by said first-named slotted partitions, and motion transmitting mech anism including a pair of arms pivotally secured at one end to said resilient member intermediate the ends of the latter, and separate levers operatively connecting said arms to the opposite longitudinal extremities, respectively, of said resilient member, said arms being movable in opposite directions relative to one another and adapted to cooperate with said levers for 'fiexing said resilient member in the form of an arc having its axial center above the grid assembly, whereby said first-named partitions are moved outwardly with respect to each other and said secondnamed partitions are moved longitudinally relative to one another.

9. In a unitary grid assembly for ice trays, a longitudinally extending resilient member, a plurality of spaced-apart vertical transverse partltions each terminating at its upper end in a lateral projection rigidly secured to the underside of said resilient member, said partitions providing a series of transverse cells along the bottom of said resilient member, certain of said transverse partitions each having a transverse cut-out slot in the upper half thereof extending through said lateral projection, a plurality of other vertical partitions disposed transversely to said firstnamed slotted partitions and each having a cutout slot in the lower half thereof intermediate its ends for engagement with a separate one of said first-named slotted partitions, said second-named partitions being movably connected together in overlapping relation in the spaces between said first-named slotted partitions to form a substantially continuous longitudinal dividing wall through the cells provided by said first-named slotted partitions, and motion transmitting mechanism for flexing said resilient member in the form of an arc having its axial center above the grid assembly, whereby said first-named partitions are moved outwardly with respect to one another and said second-named partitions are moved longitudinally relative to one another, said mechanism including a pair of arms each pivotally secured at one end to said resilient member intermediate the ends of the latter and movable in opposite directions with respect to each other, and a pair of levers hingedly connected at one end to the opposite ends, respectively, of said resilient member, and pin-and-slot connections between the opposite ends obsaid levers and said arms, respectively, to enable said arms and levers to normally occupy a substantially horizontal position on said resilient member on opposite sides of said pivotal connection.

NILS ERLAND AF KLEEN. 

